Top Destiny 2 PvP Weapons: Meta Firearms for Competitive Play & Trials of Osiris

Destiny 2’s PvP meta is in a state of constant evolution, particularly with the introduction of new weapons in Echoes Act 3, providing Guardians with fresh options to enhance their builds.

The Crucible remains a highly regarded arena for Guardians to showcase their skills against one another. Recognizing its popularity, Bungie has introduced three new maps in Season 23, allowing players to diversify their experience.

One of the key aspects of engaging in PvP is the challenge of buildcrafting and identifying the top Legendary and Exotic weapons necessary to excel in competition. With each new update, the introduction of more potent weapons compels players to seek out the best god rolls to stay competitive.

Effectively, the PvP Meta is composed of the most powerful weapons within the sandbox. Weapons may thrive in the Crucible due to a variety of factors such as having an impressive perk pool, a rapid time-to-kill (TTK), or simply being pleasurable to use. It’s essential to utilize these meta weapons to remain competitive.

Best Weapons We Recommend Right Now

Auto Rifles, Hand Cannons, and Pulse Rifles are currently dominating the primary weapon category, while Shotguns and Sniper Rifles lead the special weapon ranks, providing outstanding lethality in combat.

These are the top-tier PvP weapons we recommend for Competitive and Trials of Osiris, as they excel as the strongest in their respective categories:

Auto Rifle: Khvostov 7G-0X and The Summoner
Hand Cannons: Ace of Spades and Rose
Pulse Rifles: Elsie’s Rifle and The Messenger
Shotguns: Conditional Finality, Matador 64, and Someday
Sniper Rifles: Cloudstrike and Beloved

The weapons mentioned above are highly sought after in the Crucible, largely because they are favored by higher-level players. Each of these categories boasts quick TTKs, impressive stats, and either outstanding perk pools or powerful Exotic perks tailored for PvP.

Players should aim to farm god rolls for all these weapons to ensure preparedness for any match, as each weapon excels on specific maps. For instance, Cloudstrike shines on open maps like Disjunction and Radiant Cliffs, while Conditional Finality and Matador 64 dominate in close-quarter battle scenarios.

Best Top Slot Weapons for PvP (Kinetic, Stasis, Strand)

Primary Kinetic Weapons

Hung Jury SR4

Weapon Type: Scout Rifle
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Precision
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)
PvP God Roll: Rapid Hit + Box Breathing

The Hung Jury SR4 was outstanding when initially released in Season 20, and its reintroduction in Season 23 maintains its strong performance. The standout feature is its access to Box Breathing, allowing for a competitive TTK of 670 ms against 100 Resilience, making it ideal for larger maps.

Midnight Coup

Weapon Type: Hand Cannon
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)
PvP God Roll: Explosive Payload + Zen Moment

Also part of Onslaught’s loot, Midnight Coup is a well-rounded Hand Cannon that competes with the best thanks to excellent stats and comfortable handling.

Rose

Weapon Type: Hand Cannon
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Lightweight
Debut Season: Season 19 (Reissued)
God Roll: Slideshot/Rapid Hit + Explosive Payload

Regarded as the top Legendary Hand Cannon in PvP, Rose offers the balance of an Adaptive frame’s damage and a Lightweight frame’s handling. However, obtaining a god roll can require significant time, but it’s worth the effort if you seek a competitive edge.

The Messenger

Weapon Type: Pulse Rifle
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: High-Impact
Debut Season: Season 21 (Reissued)
PvP God Roll: Rapid Hit + Headseeker/Keep Away

The Messenger allows for consistent two-burst kills, similar to the power of No Time To Explain in PvP. However, it can only be acquired through Trials of Osiris, making it harder to obtain for casual players.

Unending Tempest

Weapon Type: SMG
Element: Stasis
Weapon Frame: Precision
Debut Season: Season 22
God Roll: Dynamic Sway Reduction + Target Lock

Despite nerfs affecting SMGs and Target Lock, Unending Tempest has remained dominant due to its high effectiveness and ease of use for players of all skill levels.

Special Kinetic Weapons

Defiance of Yasmin

Weapon Type: Sniper Rifle
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 18
God Roll: Snapshot Sights + Opening Shot

Defiance of Yasmin breaks the trend of best snipers being energy weapons, offering excellent aim assistance and the desirable perks of Snapshot Sights and Opening Shot.

Fractethyst

Fractehyst shotgun in Destiny 2 — Bungie

Weapon Type: Shotgun
Element: Stasis
Weapon Frame: Precision
Debut Season: Season 15
God Roll: Quickdraw/Slideshot + Opening Shot

Fractethyst has proven to be one of the best Stasis shotguns and remains viable in the current meta, especially when paired with great perks.

Imperial Decree

Weapon Type: Shotgun
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Aggressive
Debut Season: Season 18 (Reissued)
God Roll: Slideshot + Opening Shot

Ideal for players favoring Aggressive Frames, Imperial Decree excels in PvP, although acquiring it presently is challenging.

Scatter Signal

Weapon Type: Fusion Rifle
Element: Strand
Weapon Frame: Rapid-Fire
Debut Season: Season 23
God Roll: Surplus + Kickstart

Although Fusion Rifles have seen better days, Scatter Signal is a formidable option that stands out due to its impactful perks.

Someday

Weapon Type: Shotgun
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Precision
Debut Season: Season 24 (Episode: Echoes)
God Roll: Threat Detector/Elemental Capacitor (Arc) + Opening Shot

With Someday being easy to farm due to its craftable nature, it’s among the top Precision Frame shotguns available in Destiny 2.

Exotic Kinetic Weapons

Ace of Spades

Weapon Type: Hand Cannon
Element: Kinetic
Exotic Perks: Memento Mori, Firefly
Catalyst: Funeral Pyre
Debut Season: Season 4

Ace of Spades empowers its shots after defeating enemies, making it one of the most straightforward yet effective Exotic options in PvP.

Conditional Finality

Weapon Type: Shotgun
Element: Stasis
Exotic Perks: Split Decision, Paracausal Pellets
Catalyst: N/A
Debut Season: Season 8

Conditional Finality’s unique feature allows it to shoot flames and ice, creating versatile options in combat and excelling in aggressive encounters.

Forerunner

Weapon Type: Sidearm
Element: Kinetic
Exotic Perks: Full Stop, Pace Yourself
Catalyst: The Rock
Debut Season: Season 15

The Forerunner excels as a mobile option for medium-range engagements, capable of outperforming many traditional guns with its fast TTK.

Khvostov 7G-0X

Weapon Type: Auto Rifle
Element: Kinetic
Exotic Perks: The Right Choice, Shoot to Loot
Catalyst: N/A
Debut Season: Season 24

While Khvostov was nerfed from its initial OP state, it remains an exceptional option for those adept with tracking weapons.

Outbreak Perfected

Weapon Type: Pulse Rifle
Element: Kinetic
Exotic Perks: The Corruption Spreads, Parasitism
Catalyst: The Corruption Spreads (Enhanced)
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)

Season 23’s changes significantly improved Outbreak Perfected’s performance, solidifying its place as a top choice in PvP.

Best Energy Weapons for PvP (Arc, Solar, Void)

Primary Energy Weapons

Claws of the Wolf

Weapon Type: Pulse Rifle
Element: Void
Weapon Frame: Rapid-Fire
Debut Season: Season 24 (Reissued)
God Roll: Headseeker + Zen Moment/Kill Clip

Claws of the Wolf stands out from Iron Banner, rolling excellent perks that enhance its effectiveness.

Elsie’s Rifle

Weapon Type: Pulse Rifle
Element: Void
Weapon Frame: High-Impact Frame
Debut Season: Season 23
God Roll: Zen Moment + Headseeker

Elsie’s Rifle excels in PvP and can achieve reliable two-burst kills, making it a premier choice among Pulse Rifles.

Igneous Hammer

Weapon Type: Hand Cannon
Element: Solar
Weapon Frame: Aggressive
Debut Season: Season 22 (Reissued)
God Roll: Keep Away + Eye of the Storm

Igneous Hammer combines the benefits of an Aggressive Hand Cannon capable of functioning well in PvP.

Prosecutor

Weapon Type: Auto Rifle
Element: Arc
Weapon Frame: Precision
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)
God Roll: Zen Moment + Target Lock/Tap the Trigger

Prosecutor is highly regarded, possessing a robust perk pool and dominance in both PvP and PvE.

The Summoner

Weapon Type: Auto Rifle
Element: Solar
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)
God Roll: Dynamic Sway Reduction/Zen Moment + Target Lock

The Summoner provides excellent performance and user experience, making it a strong contender in PvP.

Special Energy Weapons

Beloved

Weapon Type: Sniper Rifle
Element: Solar
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 17 (Reissued)
God Roll: Snapshot Sights + Moving Target/Quickdraw

Beloved is a fan-favorite due to its perk combinations and low zoom, allowing for aggressive play in PvP.

Felwinter’s Lie

Weapon Type: Shotgun
Element: Solar
Weapon Frame: Shot Package (Unique)
Debut Season: Season 10
God Roll: Curated Roll

Felwinter’s Lie, while older, remains competitive due to its unique frame enabling effective one-tap potential.

Matador 64

Weapon Type: Shotgun
Element: Arc
Weapon Frame: Precision
Debut Season: Season 15
God Roll: Threat Detector/Perpetual Motion + Opening Shot

Matador 64 is a consistent and user-friendly shotgun that has been a dominant choice since its release.

Retold Speech

Retold Tale shotgun in Destiny 2. — Bungie

Weapon Type: Shotgun
Element: Void
Weapon Frame: Precision
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)
God Roll: Quickdraw/Slideshot + Snapshot Sights

Despite its reissue back in Season 23, Retold Tale remains powerful, especially given its fast handling and lethality up close.

The Epicurean

Weapon Type: Fusion Rifle
Element: Solar
Weapon Frame: Precision
Debut Season: Season 15
God Roll: Snapshot Sights/Surplus + Rangefinder/Backup Plan

The Epicurean provides reliable performance in PvP, offering choices for increasing handling or damage range.

Exotic Energy Weapons

Cloudstrike

Weapon Type: Sniper Rifle
Element: Arc
Exotic Perks: Mortal Polarity, Stormbringer
Catalyst: Triple Tap
Debut Season: Season 12

Cloudstrike’s destructive potential in PvP stems from its unique perk, which can eliminate multiple foes with well-placed shots.

Gravity Lance

The Graviton Lance Exotic Pulse Rifle from Destiny 2 with UI hidden. — Bungie

Weapon Type: Pulse Rifle
Element: Void
Exotic Perks: Black Hole, Cosmology
Catalyst: Vorpal Weapon, Turnabout
Debut Season: Season 1

Graviton Lance remains a formidable choice in PvP, excelling at one-on-one gunfights irrespective of prior nerfs.

Jotunn

Weapon Type: Fusion Rifle
Element: Solar
Exotic Perks: Charge Shot, Shield Disorient
Catalyst: Cornered, Incandescent
Debut Season: Season 5

Jotunn features tracking projectiles, making it a lethal option in PvP once mastered.

Red Death Reformed

Weapon Type: Pulse Rifle
Element: Solar
Exotic Perks: Redemption, Inverse Relationship
Catalyst: Helping Hand
Debut Season: Season 24 (Episode: Echoes)

Red Death Reformed is notable for its self-healing capabilities, making it a remarkable choice in PvP.

Vex Mythoclast

Weapon Type: Fusion Rifle
Element: Solar
Exotic Perks: Timeless Mythoclast, Temporal Unlimiter
Catalyst: Calculated Balance
Debut Season: Season 14

Vex Mythoclast continues to be a unique option in PvP, performing as an effective Auto Rifle despite its designation as a Fusion Rifle.

Best Heavy Weapons for PvP

Heavy Legendary Weapons

Cataphract GL3

Weapon Type: Heavy Grenade Launcher
Element: Strand
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 22
God Roll: Impulse Amplifier + Chain Reaction

If you can manage the grind, the Cataphract GL3 is a top-tier heavy weapon in PvP.

Edge Transit

Weapon Type: Heavy Grenade Launcher
Element: Void
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)
God Roll: Impulse Amplifier + Explosive Light

Edge Transit is a solid alternative, offering similar power while being easier to farm than the Cataphract GL3.

Hammerhead

Weapon Type: Machine Gun
Element: Void
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)
God Roll: Under-Over + Tap The Trigger

Although often overlooked, Hammerhead excels in PvP due to its rapid TTK and consistent performance.

Semiotician

Weapon Type: Rocket Launcher
Element: Strand
Weapon Frame: High-Impact Frame
Debut Season: Season 22
God Roll: Impulse Amplifier + Explosive Light

Semiotician is a viable option for PvP, offering quick projectile velocity and blast radius.

The Other Half

Weapon Type: Sword
Element: Void
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 15
God Roll: Eager Edge + Vorpal Weapon

The Other Half provides exceptional mobility with Enhanced Eager Edge, making it a formidable opponent in the right hands.

Heavy Exotic Weapons

Deathbringer

Weapon Type: Rocket Launcher
Element: Void
Exotic Perks: Dark Deliverance, Dark Descent
Catalyst: Dead Weight
Debut Season: Season 8

Deathbringer is unique for its ability to rain down AoE damage, making it effective for controlling objectives in PvP.

Slag corner

Gjallerhorn exotic rocket launcher from Destiny 2. — Bungie

Weapon Type: Rocket Launcher
Element: Solar
Exotic Perks: Wolfpack Rounds, Pack Hunter
Catalyst: More Wolves
Debut Season: Season 15

Gjallarhorn stands out because of its homing rounds and significant area damage, proving effective in PvP encounters.

Thunderlord

Weapon Type: Machine Gun
Element: Arc
Exotic Perks: Reign Havoc, Feeding Frenzy
Catalyst: Return Stroke
Debut Season: Season 4

Thunderlord remains reliable with strong damage output and the ability to produce lightning strikes in PvP.

Wardcliff Coil

Weapon Type: Rocket Launcher
Element: Arc
Exotic Perks: Mad Scientist, Mechanized Autoloader
Catalyst: Pinpoint Guidance Module
Debut Season: Season 1

Wardcliff Coil can surprise enemies, providing area denial and burst damage when utilized effectively.

That’s all for the best PvP Weapons in Destiny 2.